Dog Fence vs. Traditional Fence: Which Is Right for Your Michigan Yard?

As a dog owner in Southeast Michigan, you may have wondered what you should do-install a dog fence or a traditional fence?-thousands of other dog owners will ask this question annually. They offer the same control of the dog but work in very different ways and the best one is dependent on your yard, budget, neighborhood policies, and the temperament of your dog.

A traditional fence provides clear and tangible separation in the form of a fence, which can be constructed of wood, vinyl, chain-link or aluminum. A dog fence on the other hand, typically means an underground dog fence or wireless dog fence system that will train your dog so they remain in an invisible fence. There are loyal advocates for both methods and of course pros & cons that need to be considered before you make your purchase.

We’ll explore some of the truths behind invisible fence vs regular fence, cost, look, upkeep, even reliability in containment for your Michigan property and make the decision call for you.

What Is a Traditional Fence?

A traditional fence is a fence with a fence line option that is visible, that’s a structure elevated from the ground that shows what the property boundary is and hinders your dog’s ability to leave the yard. Most people can envision this type of fencing when they consider dog fencing and it has long been a traditional choice of homeowners.

There are a handful of traditional fence designs, all with their own level of maintenance, curb appeal and costs:

• Wood fence – Classic, relatively easy to customize, it looks great on Michigan’s suburban and rural properties – but must be stained, sealed and repaired frequently during brutal winters.
• Vinyl fence – A low-maintenance, long-lasting fence that lasts longer than a wood fence, but also costs more.
• Chain Link Fence – Low cost and sturdy but not much privacy and may appear to be utilitarian instead of an attractive fence.
• Aluminum fence – Tends to be tall and ugly, and is often the only fence for pools or eastern front yards but is usually not a high enough fence or sturdy enough on its own to contain small or determined dogs.

A physical fence is very noticeable and some homeowners may enjoy having it for safety and boundaries, but others might not want it that blocks out views, gives them trouble with neighbors’ HOA or just doesn’t work the way they wish their yard to appear.

What Is a Dog Fence? Underground, Electric & Wireless Options Explained

Diagnosing the dog fence could also refer to the invisible fence for dogs, electric dog fence or underground dog fence in general. Rather than a physical fence, a thin wire is installed just beneath the surface that defines the boundary that your dog will be taught to not step over. If your dog breaks that line while wearing a receiver collar he or she will be announced with a warning tone but will only receive a mild static correction if he or she moves forward.

There’s wireless dog fence, too, which is based on a transmitter generating a circular signal area instead of buried wire. Wireless systems are easier to install, but do not provide as much coverage and or customizability as a wired dog invisible fence.

One of the most beneficial benefits about a covered dog grate is flexibility. Since there is no physical structure, it can outline the contours of your property – around your gardens, driveways, ponds, wooded areas, or arched by natural property lines to preserve your sight line and maintain your landscape design. When coupled with training, they are common throughout the Southeast Michigan region as they solve problems a traditional fence cannot.

Dog Fence vs. Traditional Fence: Key Differences

In the dog fence vs traditional fence debate it can all be summed up in five points: cost, look, installation options, containment performance and maintenance.

Cost: Most underground dog fences are much cheaper than wood, vinyl and aluminum fences for larger properties. On the extensive acreage that is found in Michigan, a physical fence involves a significant amount of material, labor and posts on all sides and is a heavy expense.

Appearance: The beauty of the traditional fence is its ability to alter the overall appearance of your property – either good or bad depending on how you make it look. Wireless or wired underground can be completely invisible which leaves open sightlines, landscaping and curb appeal.

Installation flexibility: Physical fencing has a few limitations when it comes to installation: slopes, wooded lots, water features and irregular boundaries. One of the reasons that many Michigan homeowners select a hidden dog fence is that it can be made to match almost anything, including other obstacles like a lake or wooded yard.

Containment effectiveness: Physical barrier of fence will keep animals and dog from getting in or out. Whereas an electric dog fence requires training and consistency, most pups learn where to go and not to go in just a few days, it’s dependent on a properly functioning collar and correctly buried wire.

Maintenance: Stain wood; clean vinyl occasionally; and might rust or bend chain-link. After freeze-thaw periods as often happen in Michigan underground systems should be inspected for wire breaks from time to time, but repairs typically are relatively quick and inexpensive in comparison to reconstruction of fence panels.

Invisible Fence vs. Regular Fence: Weighing the Pros and Cons

It is still a matter of priorities whether you use an invisible fence or regular fence.

Choose an invisible fence for dogs if you want:

• A budget friendly pet containment that can be used in a large yard that possibly has an irregular shape
• To help you keep your view and landscape intact
• A solution for areas around pools, gardens and wooded areas
• Quicker installation without disruption at your property

Choose a regular, physical fence if you want:

• A barrier that is visible and keeps other animals and people from coming in
• Contained and added privacy
• Eliminates the need for training, collars and batteries
• Structures built for permanent use to lease or for protection

Many Michigan residents actually use both: An underground dog fence set up for the majority of their yard with a decorative vinyl fence or aluminum fence installed to front the house for curb appeal.

Why Michigan Dog Owners Are Choosing Underground Dog Fences

Whether it’s snow, ice, mud, or freeze-thaw, a Michigan dog fence system has to be able to deal with it all – that’s why underground systems are better. The wire is buried deeper than the frost line, which means it will remain effective in extreme cold conditions without expanding and impeding growth, rotting and rusting like some of the previous fencing lines have done.

Other underground and wireless systems are also popular among the homeowners, who:

• So live in areas where they won’t allow or enforce the restriction of visible fencing
• Own wooded, sloped or irregularly shaped property lots in which it is difficult or costly to erect a fenced area around them
• So, if you want to fence large areas and don’t have a lot of money, you’re not alone
• Have more than one dog or a different breed that requires different rules in the house and yard

Our team at Underground Fence Michigan plans each dog fence installed around your yard based on the precise dimensions of your home. We walk the property in advance and help with the design process of your fence based on such criteria as high traffic areas, plant beds, and slopes. On our underground pet fence services page you can discover the extent of our approach, including our new dog fence installation process.

When a Traditional Fence Still Makes Sense

Not all situations warrant a dog fence. In cases where you would like to have a fenced area you can see from the street, more home security and a fence that can also exclude wildlife and other animals from the yard, a traditional fence can be worth the additional expense. Having a physical fence is also without any training time that is required, and may be important if you’re unable to dedicate time to training your dog on boundary cues.

Means of securing a dog into a fence: If you have an existing chain-link fence or a wood fence, sometimes it is more feasible to install a hidden fence in the spots that you know your dog can access than it is to build an entire fence.

Choosing the Right Pet Containment System for Your Yard

When it comes to a dog fence vs. the traditional fence, there is no single right answer, but the idea can be greatly influenced by the shape of your yard, your price range, the rules regarding your neighbors and your dog training ability. The very best approach is to have a practitioner visit your site and create a plan of action.

All of our consultations are free and no pressure, which allow us to assess your yard and determine the type of dog containment solution that is best suited to you and your pet, whether you’re considering installing an underground dog fence, upgrading an existing system with a new type, or repairing wire breaks on an existing fence. With every new fence installation, we offer the pet to be trained in a pet-friendly manner so your dog learns her boundaries safely and with confidence. We even have re-installing services to install your existing system in the new location in Michigan.